Abstract
For a long time, a common opinion among policy-makers was that the digital divide problem would be solved when a country’s Internet connection rate reaches saturation. However, scholars of the second-level digital divide have concluded that the divides in Internet skills and type of use continue to expand even after physical access is universal. This study—based on an online survey among a representative sample of the Dutch population—indicates that the first-level digital divide remains a problem in one of the richest and most technologically advanced countries in the world. By extending basic physical access combined with material access, the study finds that a diversity in access to devices and peripherals, device-related opportunities, and the ongoing expenses required to maintain the hardware, software, and subscriptions affect existing inequalities related to Internet skills, uses, and outcomes.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 354-375 |
| Number of pages | 22 |
| Journal | New Media and Society |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 7 Sep 2018 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2019 |
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Keywords
- UT-Hybrid-D
- devices
- digital divide
- digital inequality
- first-level digital divide
- Internet access
- Internet outcomes
- Internet skills
- material access
- peripherals
- Device diversity
Cite this
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The first-level digital divide shifts from inequalities in physical access to inequalities in material access. / van Deursen, Alexander J.A.M. (Corresponding Author); van Dijk, Jan A.G.M.
In: New Media and Society, Vol. 21, No. 2, 01.02.2019, p. 354-375.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - The first-level digital divide shifts from inequalities in physical access to inequalities in material access
AU - van Deursen, Alexander J.A.M.
AU - van Dijk, Jan A.G.M.
N1 - Sage deal
PY - 2019/2/1
Y1 - 2019/2/1
N2 - For a long time, a common opinion among policy-makers was that the digital divide problem would be solved when a country’s Internet connection rate reaches saturation. However, scholars of the second-level digital divide have concluded that the divides in Internet skills and type of use continue to expand even after physical access is universal. This study—based on an online survey among a representative sample of the Dutch population—indicates that the first-level digital divide remains a problem in one of the richest and most technologically advanced countries in the world. By extending basic physical access combined with material access, the study finds that a diversity in access to devices and peripherals, device-related opportunities, and the ongoing expenses required to maintain the hardware, software, and subscriptions affect existing inequalities related to Internet skills, uses, and outcomes.
AB - For a long time, a common opinion among policy-makers was that the digital divide problem would be solved when a country’s Internet connection rate reaches saturation. However, scholars of the second-level digital divide have concluded that the divides in Internet skills and type of use continue to expand even after physical access is universal. This study—based on an online survey among a representative sample of the Dutch population—indicates that the first-level digital divide remains a problem in one of the richest and most technologically advanced countries in the world. By extending basic physical access combined with material access, the study finds that a diversity in access to devices and peripherals, device-related opportunities, and the ongoing expenses required to maintain the hardware, software, and subscriptions affect existing inequalities related to Internet skills, uses, and outcomes.
KW - UT-Hybrid-D
KW - devices
KW - digital divide
KW - digital inequality
KW - first-level digital divide
KW - Internet access
KW - Internet outcomes
KW - Internet skills
KW - material access
KW - peripherals
KW - Device diversity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85059025492&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1461444818797082
DO - 10.1177/1461444818797082
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85059025492
VL - 21
SP - 354
EP - 375
JO - New media & society
JF - New media & society
SN - 1461-4448
IS - 2
ER -